Children who are abused or neglected, including those who witness domestic violence, often exhibit emotional, cognitive, and behavioral problems, such as depression, suicidal behavior, difficulty in school, use of alcohol and other drugs, and early sexual activity. Children who are abused or neglected also are more likely to repeat the cycle of violence by entering into violent relationships as teens and adults or abusing their own children.
Child abuse and neglect are underreported and are found in families of all socioeconomic levels and ethnic groups. A variety of risk factors exist for child abuse/neglect. Primary among them is parental substance abuse. Another risk factor is domestic violence. Research shows that in 30% to 60% of families that experience domestic violence, children also are abused.* Other contributing factors include parental mental illness, poverty, and child disability. Prevention of child abuse and neglect requires public education and commitment from communities to provide emotional, social, and financial support systems for families.
* In Harm’s Way: Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment. (1999). National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. http://library.adoption.com/articles/in-harms-way-domestic-violence-and-child-maltreatment.html
Here we’ve compiled a list of organizations that provide information on resources for preventing child abuse and neglect.
- Stop the Silence: Stop Child Sexual Abuse. The mission of Stop the Silence is to increase awareness about and conduct programming to address the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse (CSA) and address the relationships between this issue and the broader issues of overall family and community violence. http://stopthesilence.org/
- Safer Society Foundation, Inc. The Safer Society Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit agency, is a national research, advocacy, and referral center on preventing and treating sexual abuse. The Foundation provides training and consultation, research, sex offender treatment referrals, a computerized program network, and a resource library. It also publishes materials for the prevention and treatment of sexual abuse. http://www.safersociety.org/
- International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) is the only multidisciplinary international organization that brings together a global cross-section of committed professionals to work towards preventing and treating child abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
- AVANCE, Inc. AVANCE’s mission is to provide support and education services that will strengthen low-income families. AVANCE’s focus is on a community-based intervention that is family-centered, preventive, comprehensive, and continuous through the integration and collaboration of services. The AVANCE Family Support and Education Program is an example of one of AVANCE’s programs: Targeted primarily at Hispanic at-risk parents with young children, the program aims to strengthen parent-child relationships and the parental role of advocate for the child. https://www.avance.org/
- Bikers Against Child Abuse International. Bikers Against Child Abuse, Inc. (BACA) is dedicated to creating a safer environment for abused children. BACA works with local and state officials to protect and empower children to not feel afraid of the world in which they live. https://bacaworld.org/
- World of Children. World of Children raises funds to help vulnerable children. Whether the kids are experiencing sexual abuse, bullying, or illness, the organization offers assistance to protect children who have had a traumatic occurrence in their lives. At-risk children are supported through World of Children programs that offer care, education, and guidance. The goal is to help every child feel happy and healthy.
- World Childhood Foundation. Over the twenty years of Childhood´s existence, they have contributed to putting child sexual abuse on the global agenda: What used to be an invisible, silent, and all-too-often denied problem is now something we recognize and collectively promise to stop. https://childhood.org/how-we-prevent-child-sexual-abuse/
- ECPAT. ECPAT is a worldwide network of organizations working to end the sexual exploitation of children. They work at all levels, supporting shelters for survivors, training and supporting law enforcement, influencing governments, and conducting a wide range of research. https://www.ecpat.org/
- Center for Violence and Injury Prevention. The Center for Violence and Injury Prevention (CVIP) promotes healthy young families and healthy young adults by advancing evidence-based violence prevention through a range of education, research, & training activities on topics that include child abuse and neglect and sexual violence. https://cvip.wustl.edu/
- Child Abuse Prevention Network. The Child Abuse Prevention Network, originally launched as an outreach effort of the Family Life Development Center at Cornell University, is sponsored by LifeNET, Inc. Child maltreatment, physical abuse, psychological maltreatment, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse and neglect are key areas of concern. Through internet linkages, the Network provides professionals with online tools and support for the identification, investigation, treatment, adjudication, and prevention of child abuse and neglect. http://www.child-abuse.com/
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